Gasket seal with positioning stops for a fixed window glued to flanges of an opening

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a gasket seal ( 1 ) in the form of a profile comprising a U-shaped groove ( 23 ), which is intended to claim the edge ( 9 ) of the window ( 3 ) and a flexible masking lip ( 25 ) which is used to conceal the gap ( 8 ) between the window and the body ( 5 ). The inventive seal also comprises a longitudinal rib ( 29 ) which is provided with local deformations ( 30 ) that act as positioners ( 17 ). The method of producing the aforementioned gasket seal comprises a step involving the extrusion of a profile which comprises a U-shaped groove, a flexible masking lip and a continuous longitudinal rib and, subsequently, a step whereby said rib is deformed locally in order to form the positioners. During said deformation step, the rib is flattened locally by a crushing or pinching in order to reduce the thickness thereof and increase the height of same in the relevant area. The invention is particularly suitable for manufactures of motor vehicle accessories.

This application is a national stage completion of PCT/FR03/00191 filedJan. 21, 2003 which claims priority from French Application Ser. No.02/00754 filed Jan. 22, 2002.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention concerns a perimeter seal surrounding a windowinstalled in the opening of a vehicle body, particularly a windshield, arear side window, or a back window.

The invention also relates to a particularly advantageous method ofmanufacturing such a seal.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

At present, the methods generally used to position fixed windows duringcourse of automobile assembly are completely automated through the useof machine tools.

Fixed windows such as for example, windshields, rear side windows orback windows are now installed using conventional methods of adheringthem to a recess in the vehicle body which forming a groove in theopening by means of a peripheral bead of adhesive.

Because of manufacturing allowances in vehicle body construction and theneed to leave space for expansion, when the window is positioned thereis a relatively large gap between the flange of the window and the endof the vehicle body.

For esthetic reasons, it is preferable to camouflage this gap bycovering it with a frame profile or a perimeter seal also called anenhancer which may comprise, for example, a flexible masking lip used tocompensate for the allowances.

In addition to their esthetic function, these frame profiles serve theadditional purpose of positioning the window when the window is glued tothe flanges of the opening in the vehicle body during assembly.

Actually, during the assembly procedure, a bead of adhesive is depositedon the groove in the metal vehicle body. The window is then gripped by amachine tool, generally using suction devices, placed in the opening tobe covered, and finally pressed against the bead of adhesive until it isin the desired position.

For reasons related to air flow and esthetics, the industry has sought away to position windows flush with the vehicle body, without any offsetareas or protuberances between the window and the adjacent metal of thebody.

Furthermore, in positioning the window, it is important to maintainoptimal spacing between the window and the groove in the body so that onthe one hand, the bead of adhesive is compressed sufficiently to adhereand form a tight seal between the window and the body, and on the otherhand, the window does not exert so much pressure on the still liquidbead of glue that it overflows and drips onto the car body.

For all these reasons, it is desirable to maintain precise spacingbetween the window and the groove in the body that forms the edge of theopening. Advantageously, the seal may also comprise stop means toregulate this distance.

In the prior art various models of frame elements for maintaining thespacing between the window and the edges of the vehicle body openinghave been proposed. For example, such elements have been described inFrench Patent Application No. 2.340.217 of REGIE NATIONALE DES USINESRENAULT or in European Patent Application No. EP 0.117.816 of VEGLAGmbH.

However, these elements are complex devices formed of several compositepieces. They entail long, expensive manufacturing and placementprocedures, adding considerably to both the expense and length of timerequired to position the window.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The object of the invention is to furnish a perimeter seal for a fixedwindow that masks the spaces caused by manufacturing allowances andmaintains optimal spacing between the window and the vehicle body, andwhich also has a simple, economical design and is easy to position.

Another object of the invention is to teach an advantageous method ofmanufacturing such a seal that is particularly simple, quick andeconomical.

Another type of seal is also known in the prior art. It will bedescribed in greater detail following this description.

This windshield seal is composed of an extruded polymer profile whichsurrounds the window on three sides.

One side is U-shaped for attachment to the window and on the other sidethere is a flexible masking lip with a free end that rests on the metalof the vehicle body in order to mask the esthetically objectionable gap.

On the interior surface, that is, the surface that will be placedtowards the interior of the vehicle, this seal comprises several stripsforming local stops used to maintain optimal spacing between the sealand the edges of the opening.

This type of seal has numerous advantages. Since it is composed of asingle piece of polymer it is quick and easy to install, and it is alsosatisfactory from a technical point of view.

However, despite the fact that the seal is made of inexpensive primarymaterial and its simple shape adapts well to extrusion manufacturing,production remains relatively burdensome. This is because the wedgestrips require an additional notch formation step that is complex andcostly to perform after extrusion. In addition, a second stepnecessitates forming notches to remove the extra rib areas by so thatonly certain localized portions of them remain in place corresponding tothe wedge strips.

The notching step is a slow, delicate operation. It is actually notpossible to remove such a long profile in one simple cutting operation.Notching consists of removing the superfluous material by “nibbling”away at it little by little.

The equipment required is complicated and expensive. Additionally, theextrusion process must be synchronized with the tedious notching step,which effectively slows down the entire manufacturing operation.

For all the above reasons, the selling price of these seals, despitetheir apparent simplicity, is relatively high.

Finally, it seems illogical to shape material into a profile only toremove most of it.

The object of the invention is to teach another type of glued seal for afixed window, which, like the previous seal, masks the spaces resultingfrom manufacturing allowances, maintains optimal spacing between thewindow and the vehicle body, and is simple and quick to install, butwhich has a substantially lower selling price than the prior art seal.

The invention also teaches a simpler, faster, and more economical methodfor manufacturing such a seal.

To resolve this technical problem, the seal according to the inventionis also in the form of a profile, designed to be attached to the edgesof a fixed window covering an opening, specifically the opening in anautomobile.

As with the prior art, it comprises a longitudinal groove with asidewise U-shaped transverse section for attachment to the edge of thewindow and a masking lip to cover the esthetically objectionable gapthat exists between the edge of the window and the gap adjacent to theopening.

According to an essential feature of the invention, it comprises on thesurface that will be placed towards the vehicle interior a longitudinalrib with at least one and preferably several local deformations thatform one or more positioning stops to maintain optimal spacing betweenthe seal and the flanges of the opening.

Preferably, the at least one deformation is a flat area on the rib thatis thinner and higher than the adjacent areas along the rest of the rib,thereby forming a projecting portion that serves as a positioning stop.

The manufacturing method according to the invention comprises a firstextrusion step to form a profile comprising a longitudinal groove with asidewise U-shaped transverse section for attachment to the edge of thewindow, a masking lip to cover the gap between the edge of the windowand the gap adjacent to the opening, and on its interior surface, acontinuous longitudinal rib.

In the second step this longitudinal rib is deformed locally in order toform one or more positioning stops.

This deformation step preferably consists of flattening the rib bycrushing it or pinching it while the rib is locally flattened until itbecomes thinner and taller in a predetermined area and forms aprojecting portion that can serve as a positioning stop.

The deformation step is simple, quick, and uses inexpensive material.Unlike notching, it can be easily synchronized with extrusion and doesnot slow down that process at all. Advantageously, using the method ofthe invention greatly reduces the individual selling price for such aseal.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other features and advantages of the invention will be apparent fromreading the following detailed description, with reference to theattached drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a general schematic perspective of the front of an automobilehaving a windshield equipped with a seal according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the interior surface of a seal with threeprofile portions according to the invention FIG. 2A is a plan view ofthe interior surface of a seal which surrounds an entire perimeter of awindow;

FIG. 3 is a schematic cross-section of one flange of the opening in theautomobile body with a fixed window glued in place and with a sealaccording to the invention attached to the flange;

FIG. 4 is a perspective of the side of a seal portion according to theprior art designed for placement toward the vehicle body;

FIG. 5 is a perspective of the side of a seal portion according to theprior art designed for placement toward the window;

FIG. 6 is a perspective of the side of a seal portion according to thepresent invention designed for placement toward the vehicle body;

FIG. 7 is a perspective of the side of a seal portion according to thepresent invention designed for placement toward the window;

FIG. 8 is a transverse cross-section taken along lines VIII—VIII of FIG.4 of a seal according to the prior art at any point along the sealbeyond the positioning stops;

FIG. 9 is a transverse cross-section taken along line IX—IX of FIG. 4 ofa seal according to the prior art in the area of a positioning stop;

FIG. 10 is a transverse cross-section taken along line X—X of FIG. 6 ofa seal according to the present invention at any point along the sealbeyond the positioning stops;

FIG. 11 is a transverse cross-section taken along line XI—XI of FIG. 6of a seal according to the present invention in the area of thepositioning stop; and

FIG. 12 is a general schematic perspective of the rear of an automobilehaving rear and side windows equipped with seals according to theinvention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The sealing device according to the present invention as well as themethod of manufacturing it will now be described in detail withreference to FIGS. 1–11. Equivalent elements shown in different drawingswill bear the same reference numerals.

These different drawings show a seal 1 for a windshield constituting apreferred embodiment of the invention. It should be noted that thesedrawings, as well as the detailed description thereof, are in no waylimitative of the scope of the invention defined by the claims.

Obviously, the invention is not limited to a seal for a windshield, butcan be used for any other type of fixed window installation, such as,for example, rear side windows 33 or back windows 32 for automobiles.

Similarly, the seal of the invention may be used on road vehicles, urbantransportation vehicles, railway vehicles, or the like. However, theinvention is not limited to the transportation domain—it may haveapplications in any other sector using adhesive to install fixedwindows.

FIG. 1 shows an automobile vehicle 2 with a windshield 3 at the frontconsisting of a fixed window that is essentially rectangular in shape.

Windshield 3 is placed over an opening 4 formed in the vehicle body 5and attached to the flanges of the body with adhesive.

Using a conventional method, an adhesive material, preferably a bead ofglue 6 such as polyurethane type glue, is deposited along a groove 7 inthe metal of the car body 5 bordering the opening to be covered.

Windshield 3 is then positioned on the opening and then pressed againstthe bead of adhesive 6 until it is in the desired position.

Because of the gaps caused resulting from manufacturing allowances inthe metal of vehicle body 5, there remains, when windshield 3 is placedover opening 4, a gap 8 between the edge 9 of the window and shoulder 10at the beginning of groove 7 of the body.

In order to mask gap 8, which is visible and esthetically objectionable,windshield 3 is equipped with a seal 1 according to the invention thatborders it on three sides.

Seal 1 may be a perimeter seal surrounding the entire of window 3, butit may also surround only a portion of the window perimeter.

In the case of a windshield it generally does not extend around theentire periphery, with lower window edge 11 remaining free. Even thoughit is possible to provide a seal on the fourth side of the window aswell, since the gap is hidden by the edge of hood 12, it can remainuncovered.

In FIG. 2 seal 1 is shown by itself. It is composed of three profileportions 13 that have been disposed in such a way as to enclosewindshield 3 on three sides.

In the embodiment shown, windshield 3 is essentially rectangular andneeds a seal on three sides. Therefore, seal 1 comprises one essentiallyhorizontal profile element 14 and two essentially vertical profileelements 15. These three profile elements 13 are integrated with oneanother, preferably by soldering their adjacent extremities 16previously bisected at 450.

Obviously, the seal according to the invention may, without departingfrom the scope of the invention, consist of a different number ofprofile elements and/or differently shaped elements in order to adapt tothe window to which it will be attached.

Throughout this application, the term “interior surface” will be used todesignate the surface of the seal that will be placed facing theinterior of the vehicle, and the term “exterior surface” will refer tothe surface of the seal that will be placed toward the exterior of thevehicle.

The interior surface of the seal according to the invention is wherepositioning stops 17 are located; there are five in number in theembodiment shown in FIG. 2.

These positioning stops 17 advantageously maintain optimal spacingbetween seal 1 and groove 7 of the vehicle body, which it abuts, andthereby maintain optimal spacing between window 3 and vehicle body 5.

These positioning stops 17 are located at precise positions on the seal,selected and imposed for technical reasons and corresponding to areas onthe vehicle body where manufacturing standards must be preciselyrespected with very little allowance. The height of these stops isdetermined as a function of these standards.

Depending upon the desired application for the seal, a person skilled inthe art would have no difficulty adapting the number of positioningstops 17 to distribute along the seal.

A profile portion 13 of seal 1 according to the invention has been shownin perspective in FIGS. 6 and 7 and in cross-section in FIGS. 10 and 11.

By way of comparison, a profile portion 18 of a seal 19 according to theprior art has been shown in perspective in FIGS. 4 and 5 and incross-section in FIGS. 8 and 9.

These portions both comprise an essentially vertical longitudinal wall20 extending at its extremities into two essentially horizontallongitudinal walls, an exterior wall 21 and an interior wall 22, forminga generally sidewise U-shaped groove 23 opening towards windshield 3.

U-shaped groove 23 is designed so that its receptor cavity receives edge9 of the windshield and grips it between the groove walls.

From the essentially vertical wall 20 that forms the base of the U, aflexible wall 24 extends towards the vehicle body; the wall islongitudinal and essentially horizontal, and constitutes a flexiblemasking lip 25 having one free extremity 26 that rests on the metal ofthe vehicle body 5 in order to mask the esthetically objectionable gap 8between the windshield and the vehicle body.

Seal 19 of the prior art has in certain places along on its interiorsurface strips 27 that are essentially rectangular and serve aspositioning stops.

As explained in the introductory portion of this application, thesestrips 27 are formed from a longitudinal rib 28 that is initially thesame height as the desired height of strips 27 by forming notches alongthe entire length of the rib except in the area of strips 27.

As shown, after the notching step, only a very small portion oflongitudinal rib 28 outside of strips 27 remains on seal 19 of the priorart.

Conversely, seal 1 of the invention comprises, on its interior surfaceand essentially along its entire length, a relatively thick longitudinalrib 29.

There are local deformations 30 distributed along said longitudinal rib29 in locations corresponding to the places where a positioning stop 17is required.

Preferably, these deformations 30 correspond to the locally flattenedareas on rib 29 that are thinner and higher than the rest of the rib.Deformations 30 form projections that serve as positioning stops.

The invention also teaches a particularly advantageous method ofmanufacturing the seal according to the invention.

The manufacturing method comprises a first extrusion step of forming aprofile comprising U-shaped groove 23, a flexible masking lip 25, andcontinuous longitudinal rib 29.

During the second step this longitudinal rib 29 is locally deformed soas to form positioning stops 17.

During this second step, the rib is locally flattened by crushing orgripping it to reduce the thickness and increase the height in apredetermined location in order to form the projection that serves as apositioning stop. The final height of deformation 30 thus created willbe easily established by a person skilled in the art in order tocorrespond to the desired height of positioning stop 17.

This deformation step preferably is a cold process.

The flattening operation may be performed with a pneumatic press thatcrushes the rib using the jaws of a gripping tool.

The primary material used to form the seal of the invention must besuitable to be subjected to the two steps of the procedure describedpreviously.

A polymer material capable of extrusion and which can be permanentlylocally deformed should be used. Certain plastic materials formulatedwith thermoplastic properties adapt particularly well to this. Amongthem are charged polypropylene or PVC (polyvinyl chloride).

Once it has been shaped, seal 1 of the invention is attached to theperiphery of the window using its U-shaped groove.

Although it has not been shown, an adhesive material may be deposited inthe base of groove 23 or on the edge of window 3 to reinforce the bondbetween window 3 and seal 1.

Once equipped with seal 1, windshield 3 is then grasped by a machinetool, generally using suction, positioned on opening 4 of the vehiclebody to be covered, and then pressed against the bead of adhesive 6previously deposited in groove 7 in the metal of the car body.

Positioning stops 17 formed by local deformations 30 allow the pressureon the bead of adhesive to be adjusted while the window is beingprecisely positioned. This ensures optimal adhesion of the window.

Windshield 3 shown in the various drawings consists of a simplemonolithic window. Nevertheless, it could be any other type of window,such as, for example, a layered windshield or a double window with twojuxtaposed plates of glass.

1. A seal for a fixed window (3) for covering an opening (4), of anautomobile, the seal comprising a profile (13) comprising a longitudinalgroove (23) with a sidewise U-shaped transverse section for attachmentto an edge (9) of the window (3) and a masking lip (25) for covering aspace (8) between the edge (9) of the window (3) and an adjacent edge(7) of the opening; wherein a longitudinal rib (29) is provided on aninterior surface of the seal, the longitudinal rib (29) has, only incertain discontinuous localized areas, at least one permanentdeformation (30) which constitutes an area on the longitudinal ribhaving a greater height than a height along a remainder of the rib,thereby forming a projecting portion that serves as a positioning stop(17) for maintaining optimal spacing between the seal (1) and the edge(7) of the opening of the automobile; and the at least one permanentdeformation (30) is a flattened area on the rib (29) constituting thearea of thinner and greater height than the remainder of the rib tothereby form the projecting portion that serves as the positioning stop(17).
 2. The seal according to claim 1, wherein the longitudinal rib(29) has a plurality of permanent deformations (30) and each of theplurality of permanent deformations (30) of the longitudinal rib (29)are disposed at precise locations along the seal (1) selected to meetmanufacturing standards.
 3. The seal according to claim 1, wherein theseal comprises five deformations (30) which each serve as one of thepositioning stops (17).
 4. The seal according to claim 1, wherein theseal surrounds an entire perimeter of the window (3).
 5. The sealaccording to claim 1, wherein the seal surrounds only a portion of aperimeter of the window (3).
 6. The seal according to claim 5, whereinthe seal surrounds three sides of the window.
 7. The seal according toclaim 1, wherein the seal is formed from several profile elements (14,15) integrated with one another into a unitary seal.
 8. The sealaccording to claim 7, wherein the profile elements (14, 15) areintegrated with one another by securing adjacent extremities (15),previously bisected at 45°, with one another.
 9. The seal according toclaim 1, wherein the seal is formed of a polymer material that isextruded and permanently locally deformed.
 10. The seal according toclaim 1, wherein the seal is formed of a plastic material havingthermoplastic properties.
 11. The seal according to claim 1, wherein theseal is made of polypropylene or polyvinyl chloride (PVC).
 12. The sealaccording to claim 1, wherein the seal is used to secure one of awindshield (3), a rear side window and a back window to the opening ofthe automobile.